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~ rt ~ n r i:l rt t- slate line," PhlUlps said. "There are no other diversions belween here and Lake Powell. You lell me where the water Is going." Phillips bought his 40 acres on R Road In 1997. He Installed a $10,lkXI sprinkler system The fanners who use the affected washes probably aren't aware that the water they and plans to grow oats, then alfalfa. He said - Perslgo, Little Salt, Big Salt, East Salt. had come to rely on will be kept In the CoI~ he stands to lose at least $4O,lkXI next year If HlgWlne and Badger - will be len dry be- rado River to help endangered fish In the the dam project proceeds because his crops cause Colorado water law stipulates a water "IS-mile reach" between Palisade and will bum In the late summer heat. I> right on wastewater In a wash doesn't exist Grand Junction. . Phillips said even thotigh he has an a oq If the wastewater Isn't there, water officials Phillips said the needs of the Cannen lute water'rlght on East Salt Creek, he w ~ said. have not been considered, Instead of being neverconiactedabouttheproject. ~ Few, If any, of the affected fanners were designed to help endangered fish. he said, . The Bureau of Reclamation. though, wen ~ contllcted about the project. saId Lynn Phil. the pllln Is a ploy to send as much Colorado through an environmental assessment pro- t-l lips, a Mack farmer who pulls water from River wlllcr ll~ po~sible 10 downslrellm cess to produce the Grand Valley Water rt East Salt Creek. states. Management Plan approved last September. m Phillips said a water assessment map he "The roller dam at Palisade Is the last dl. has indicates at lea~t 154 other farmers \'c..~lon ix'tween Grand Juncllon and the See DIVERSION, page 6A ~ N t- El -, WESTERN COLORADO'S CHRONICLE OF RECORD SINCE 1893 , ~ '. s ay Highlitw Canal water would protedfish FEBRUARY 21, 1999 . GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO ~ . Diversion m A federal plan to divert water from the Government Hlghllne Canal for endangered fish survival In the Colorado River wID the Grand Valley Water Users Association, leave some Grand Valley fanners' crops to bar 28,lkXI acre.feet annually _ equal to high and dry In the late summer. more than 9.1 billion gallons _ from enter. Those fanners have relied on water Ing the 55-mlle.long canal during August. spilled out of the canal and Inlo six washes Seplember and October. The water will be between Grand Junction and Ihe Utah slale kept In the river to ensure endangered fish line as a supplempntal source for their between Palisade and Grand Junction have crops. enough waler to survive. The majority of IhOSP splll~ will be elll"l. The problem Is that farmers along the nall'd as pari of 11/1 $8 million check-dam washes. who Weren't ('lIglhll) for cann! wa. project apPl'Oved lasl September hy Ihe II.S. tel', have relied on spillover frum the canal Bureau of Reclamation. for 70 years, said Bob Nonnan, project team The Pl'Oject will allow the canal operalol' leader for Ihe Bureau of Reclamallo". RECEIVED FEB 2 6 1999 ~orado Water ..-ervation Board IIJ C. PAlIICI ClEARY lheballrSenllnlf Vol. 106, No. 94 66 pages $1 newsstand 1 '''-